What a game, maybe the best on Scottrade ice this season. It had hitting, big goals and even bigger saves. The Blues came out and matched the effort and compete level of the Coyotes and came away with two very important points.
Normally I would talk about the forwards and defensemen and trends right away, but I have to go after Chris Mason first. Who says this guy can’t be a “#1 Goalie”? Mason is in the top 10 in GAA and top 5 for Save%. He made game changing save after game changing save last night. Including three in a very short period of time in the third. He was the difference maker in last night’s game, stopping 34 of 36 shots. His play also leads the penalty kill unit to a 3-for-3 kill night. Erik Johnson said it best at the end of the game, “ he is our MVP”.
If you missed this game folks, I am honestly very sorry. This was quite possibly Mason’s greatest individual effort as a member of the Blues. I do not remember how many times I leaned over to my wife to say, “he just saved the game”.
Generally the effort on home ice was better. It’s hard to say the Blues played great because it looked like they just hung in the game. Credit needs to go Phoenix’s way for playing the Blues extremely tight once again. I am still leery of a team that tight who cannot score goals. Ilya Bryzgalov gave up 3 goals and the Coyotes lost for the sixth time in seven games when he does so. Phoenix has their chances, but didn’t convert. The Blues surely know how that feels. Phoenix will do well with Dave Tippett behind the bench, but scoring will be their problem all season.
One line above all stood out and that was the David Backes, Paul Kariya, and TJ Oshie line. It’s amazing how snake bitten Kariya is. He looks like Andy McDonald from the playoffs versus Vancouver, all the chances and no lucky bounces. Backes may have only gotten an assist (on a brilliant Oshie goal), but once again his game was there elsewhere. He was part of the 3-for-3 penalty kill, registered five hits, 4 shots, and was a plus-1 for the night. Backes has speed and determination all over the ice. Some fans will grip that Backes is hurting the team because he is not scoring. Hard to argue that when we haven’t been able to score, however the rest of his game is intact.
TJ Oshie was on his game last night. The score sheet shows 1 goal , 1 assist, plus-2, 4 shots, and one giveaway. I have to say I am a little surprised that there isn’t at least on takeaway. He had 2 or 3 plays that would have qualified for at least one, but I digress. He too was all over the ice. Some fans say that he isn’t that talented, he isn’t that good. I just don’t buy that. He can make the other team just look silly when he has the puck and is showing an improved ability to get to the net. On his goal, he really showed that he can score. After winning the faceoff he takes up a position in the near boards to the faceoff circle. AS the puck rotates back to the blue line he cuts behind the Coyote checking him. The puck comes to Backes high in the slot (who either knows TJ is there or just wanted to play the puck to open space) and he flipps it on his backhand towards the net. It is tipped and up in the air. Oshie grabs it and is right in front of Bryzgalov. One very nice forehand-backhand move and its in the net behind Bryzgalov. That goal tied the game at 2-2. TJ was able to read the play and get behind the defender. How? The Blues were able to keep (or get) the Coyotes defense to spread out.
The Blues did do a much better job of spreading out the defense. At times they did get too low and had nowhere to go with the puck, except through the crease and back to the point. David Perron did this a couple times. I love the fire he brings, but at times he needs to do a check real quick and pick back up his hockey senses. As much as I love the cycle and extended offensive zone possession, transition scoring chances are just working better right now. Two of the three goals scored by the Blues were in transition last night. Keith Tkachuk’s goal and Erik Johnson’s game winner were both transition goals scored by getting in to a good scoring location.
The transition seems to be working because of speed and lack of predictability. The defenders cannot get se and collapse the middle or push you to the boards. You can make a move to make them miss. Backing up defenders with speed over the line creates the space needed to get the puck through for a pass and it moves the goalie for room for a shot. The lack of space has been a growing trend for the Blues while on the cycle coming off the boards. They did a better job going to the top of the faceoff circle rather than low to the crease, which lead to a few chances. It was a nice start in to opening up the slot again. More goals will come if they continue how they played last night against one of the stingiest teams in the league.
Back on the blue line, Erik Johnson had a good night. He has 1 goal, was a plus-2, 3 shots, and 2 hits in 22:36 of ice time. He didn’t make a ton of flashy plays, till it mattered most in OT. After Tkachuk wins the faceoff to start OT, Johnson ends up with the puck after a “D-to-D” exchange and turns away from the forechecker with a nifty move. He then rushes up the ice and cuts to the slot like Kovalchuk or Malkin would do and sneaks one 5-hole on Bryzgalov. I remember after the last Atlanta game that the NHL on the Fly guys were saying how Bogosian is doing much better compared to Johnson because Bogosian is shooting more. Well, EJ shot there and didn’t miss. That gives Johnson four game winning goals out of his seven career goals. Can you say clutch?
Color me a pessimist after winning, but I am growing a little tired of Colaiacovo’s mistakes. Is his conditioning off? He made multiple lazy passes in his own zone that lead to or almost lead to turnovers. Maybe I shouldn’t complain about a 2 assist, plus-3 game. I just get the feeling we’re seeing a slightly more talented version of Jeff Woywitka. I will give kudos to Carlo for a nice night on paper, but not the greatest night on the ice in my opinion. I hope I am just being nitpicky.
Alex Peitrangelo had a very quiet, safe game. Is that a bad thing? No. He showed great hockey sense last night. The game in his head seems to be coming along very well. He can pick up position usually very well and make the right play. He didn’t get over anxious to rush the puck or force a pass. He made on deep pinch and he was backed up. He was a minus-1 for the night with no other stats to speak of, but I felt he had a solid game. Was it enough to warrant another game in the NHL Saturday? I think so.
For what its worth, Brewer was better than his minus-1. I have really only been critical of his lack of physical play, he had that going last night.
Tkachuk had an up and down night. Caused the turn over that lead to the first Phoenix goal, but then came back and powered in the Blues first. In 12:59 of ice time old Walt had a goal, an assist, 2 hits, and was a plus-1
Player of the Game
Chris Mason
